Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, stewards of the 'Spider-Man' properties, are producing and overseeing the new film.
Now that Sony has set Spider-Man on its rebooted path, the studio is setting its sights on other Spider-Man franchises. Case in point: Venom.

Sony has tapped Dante Harper to pen a script for Venom, something that is being envisioned as a franchise apart from and unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man movie in the works with actor Tom Holland.

Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, among stewards of the Spider-Man properties, are producing and overseeing the project.

Venom is one of Marvel’s top villains and a Spider-Man fixture since he was introduced in 1988, created by writer David Michelinie and artists Todd McFarlane and Mike Zeck. The character is an alien symbiote that need a human host to survive. In return, the alien empowers its victim with incredible powers.

For the longest time, Venom was a villain but then morphed into an anti-hero and even (almost) good guy. In his current incarnation, Venom is paired with Flash Thompson, a Peter Parker bully-turned-close friend and now a government agent.

It is unclear which Venom incarnation is being used for the new project.

The character made its screen appearance in Spider-Man 3 and was played by Topher Grace. A spin-off has been in development in several incarnations, with Gary Ross and Josh Trank among the director coming and going, and writers such as Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Deadpool) and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci penning versions.
This Venom is meant to not only stand on its own but to also launch its own franchise.

Harper is an up-and-coming scribe who did rewrite work on Edge of Tomorrow, the time travel sci-fi movie that starred Tom Cruise. He also co-wrote Sleepless Night, the crime thriller that stars Jamie Foxx and Dermot Mulroney.

SPIDER-MAN Spinoff VENOM Finally Has An Official Release Date And Director

Well, this came out of nowhere! Sony Pictures has announced a release date for Venom and it's coming sooner than expected! Will it tie into the MCU? Hit the jump for everything we know so far...

Back when The Amazing Spider-Man Universe was still a thing, Sony Pictures had plans for movies revolving around both Venom and the Sinister Six. Those were shelved as soon as the wall-crawler made the leap to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the studio - Sony, not Marvel Studios - has confirmed today that they will release Venom worldwide on October 5th, 2018.

Does that sound familiar? Well, it should, because it's the date which was vacated by Aquaman just a couple of hours ago! There's currently no word on who will direct or how this will tie into the MCU (it probably won't, unfortunately), but it wouldn't be remotely surprising for Sony to head down the R-Rated route following the success of both Deadpool and Logan.

It's also worth noting that Venom will be released following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, and with so much speculation revolving around the possible introduction of the alien costume in that, things could head in a very interesting direction here! What do you guys think? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts and theories in the comments section down below.

UPDATE: Well, here's a potentially concerning bit of information, but one which was to be expected...

VENOM Does Not Have A Director, But Does Have A Script From JUMANJI & THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 Scribes

Despite conflicting reports, Sony's Spider-Man spinoff Venom does not have a director attached, but it does have a pair of writers who recently turned in a draft of the script. Come take a look!

Sony Pictures threw everyone for a loop this past week when they announced an October 5, 2018 release date for their long-rumored Spider-Man spin-off Venom and shortly afterward, we received a couple more details about the wildcard project.

First off, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the film does not have a director attached just yet, which means it's probably unlikely that The Mummy helmer Alex Kurtzman - who has been attached to Venom since late-2013 - will, in fact, be tasked with bringing this project to life. Also, with Kurtzman's commitments to the Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe now taking precedence, it was always somewhat of a long shot that he would return to the Spider-Man franchise.

Now, while the search for a director rages on, Venom does have a completed script from Scott Rosenberg, who recently worked on the script for Dwayne Johnson's upcoming Jumanji reboot, and Jeff Pinkner, who made contributions to the screenplay for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. A previous draft was also turned in by Alien: Covenant scribe Dante Harper.

Further details revealed that Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are still onboard as producers, which unfortunately suggests that this spin-off will be more of the standalone nature rather than another Spidey-universe installment in the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe, although that is always subject to change. Amy Pascal, who co-produced Spider-Man: Homecoming, is also listed as a producer on Venom.

THR adds that Sony is hoping to launch a new franchise with Venom, presumably in the same vein as what Fox has been able to accomplish with Deadpool.

To provide some perspective, this isn't the first time Sony has seemingly jumped the gun on setting a release date, as just last December, they slated a Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel for July 2019, nearly eight months ahead of the first one's release. Marvel Studios made no announcement at the time and even today, has yet to acknowledge said sequel as the official launching off point for Phase 4, despite the timing of its release after the still-untitled Avengers 4 making it an almost certainty.

So, even though Sony's development of Venom is more or less the polar opposite of how Marvel Studios tends to operate, there is always a chance - however, small it may be - that Venom could ultimately join Tom Holland's Peter Parker in the MCU.

Some interesting new details about Venom have been revealed and it seems we can expect the movie to head to some very unexpected places for the superhero movie genre. Read on for details!

Production listings are always best taken with a pinch of salt, but My Entertainment World has proven itself to be a reliable source in recent months. The site has now been updated with a listing for Venom, and that indicated that the movie will start shooting this Fall. Considering the fact it's set to be released next October, that obviously makes a lot of sense and means we should get casting news very soon.

Interestingly, the site states that the genre for Venom will be "Action/Horror/Sci-fi." That points to the movie heading in some very unexpected directions, possibly utilising alien planets and full on horror elements as the symbiote stalks the streets. That may well also hint at Carnage showing up here.

That's all speculation for now, of course, but Venom might have some potential. Of course, the fact it's not set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has upset many fans, while the likelihood of Spider-Man showing up does seem slim. What does Venom need to do to succeed?Find that out right here!

VENOM Movie Is Reportedly Being Developed As An R-Rated Launch For Sony's Own Marvel Cinematic Universe

It seems clear at this stage that Sony Pictures plans to fast-track the Venom movie, and a new report indicates that the studio is actually developing their own R-rated Marvel movie universe...

We recently found out that Sony has taken steps to get their long-gestating Venom movie into production, and that shooting was set to commence on the "sci-fi horror" spinoff as soon as this fall. All signs pointed to this being completely separate to Marvel and Sony's collaboration on Spider-Man: Homecoming, but now a new report suggests that they're going to have even less of a connection than we realized.

According to Collider's sources, Venom is being developed as an R-rated launch for the studio's own cinematic universe which would utilize the Spider-Man characters that they still retain the rights too, and would not tie-in to the MCU in any way. Why build an entire franchise around a bunch of Spider-Man heroes and villains without Spidey himself? Well, because they can.

TRUTH IN JOURNALISM Director Adi Shankar Is Reportedly In Line To Helm The VENOM Movie For Sony Pictures

It now seems very clear that Sony Pictures plans to fast-track their Venom movie, and we might just have word on one of the filmmakers the studio has in mind to direct the Spider-Man spinoff...

Yesterday, we reported on a rumor that Sony Pictures was planning to make their Venom movie the first in a series of R-rated projects that would eventually build to form their own shared cinematic universe of Spidey characters. It seems like an absurd idea to most, but the studio is clearly determined to forge ahead, and now we hear that they may already have a filmmaker in mind.

Splashreport.com has heard that Adi Shankar is one of the directors on Sony's radar to helm the "action / horror / sci-fi" take on one of the Webhead's most popular foes. Shankar, who is known primarily as a producer, brought us the Venom-centric short film Truth In Advertising a few years back, so it's entirely possible his work on that caught the studio's eye.

We'll have to take this as a rumor for now, but it would make a certain amount of sense if Sony were at least considering Shankar for the Venom gig. What do you guys think?

If you weren't excited before, you may want to change your tune as Sony Pictures has just announced that The Dark Knight Rises' star Tom Hardy has signed on to play the title role in Venom!

Sony Pictures announced today that Academy Award-nominated actor Tom Hardy has signed on to play Eddie Brock in their upcoming R-rated Marvel film Venom.

The high-priority project is being developed as its own standalone feature, not as a Spider-Man spin-off, as the studio attempts to launch their own extended cinematic universe that will utilize characters from their surprisingly large Marvel library. It's still uncertain at this point in time whether his archrival Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming)or by an older actor, will make any sort of appearance in this upcoming venture.

Hardy, who is on the record as a huge fan of Venom, is a major get for the studio as they attempt to expand their Spider-Verse. He also comes with some pretty solid comic book movie experience, having previously starred as classic Batman villain Bane in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. After that, he was courted for key roles in X-Men: Apocalypse and Suicide Squad, but ultimately turned both offers down.

Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) will direct with a script from Scott Rosenberg (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) and Jeff Pinkner (The Dark Tower).

Production is expected to begin this fall with a release date already set for October 5, 2018.

Hardy is best known for his roles in The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Warrior, The Drop, Legend, and Inception. He also recently completed the first season of Taboo, a series he co-created, and will be seen next in Christopher Nolan's war drama Dunkirk this summer.

After years spent in development hell, Sony Pictures' Venom movie is finally getting off the ground. Following the announcement a few months back that Venom is back up and running, the studio revealed last week that former Bane Tom Hardy will play Eddie Brock and Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer will direct the feature. Given how Topher Grace's Venom wasn't positively received in 2007's Spider-Man 3, this is a good opportunity for the Marvel character to earn some much needed cinematic redemption.

Because Sony is crafting the Venom movie without using Spider-Man, there are restrictions on what it will be able to do, especially when you also consider what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going with the Spider-Man mythology. That said, there are still elements from the comics that can be incorporated into the blockbuster to make it as faithful as possible. Here are the main things we want to see in Venom when it arrives in theaters on October 5, 2018.

The Symbiote's Alien Origins

In the Ultimate Marvel continuity, the symbiote was artificially created by Edward Brock Sr. and Richard Parker as a way to cure cancer. An Easter Egg in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 indicated that that series was going the scientific route with Venom, but for this Venom movie, it's better they take influence from the main comics continuity by keeping the symbiote an alien. While it's impossible to have Spider-Man bring back the symbiote from a strange planet, Venom could follow in Spider-Man 3's footsteps by having the symbiote crash-land on Earth, and from there, it finds its way to Eddie Brock. However, unlike Spider-Man 3, it's important that Venom offer at least a little information about where the symbiote came from and why it traveled to our world. Should a sequel be ordered, its background can be expanded upon, like how it's a member of the species known as the Klyntar.

Eddie's Journalism Career

Before he was taken over by sentient black goo, Eddie Brock was trying to make a name for himself as a journalist. He was one of Peter parker's fellow employees at the Daily Bugle, and he was determined to write the story that bring him fame and make a true difference, just like Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward did with the Watergate scandal reporting. The fan-made short film Truth in Journalism, made by Adi Shankar (who also made the ultra violent Power/Rangers) and Joe Lynch, captured Eddie's journalistic enthusiasm perfectly, even though he's not the best at his job or the most ethical. Since Tom Hardy is in his late 30s, it's easy enough to set the Venom movie's Eddie up as a guy who's been working the beat for a while and still hasn't found his lucky break. Which brings us to the next section...

Eddie's Life Being Ruined

Eddie Brock's life collapsed when he started investigating a serial killer called The Sin-Eater. He was contacted by a man named Emil Gregg who claimed he was the Sin-Eater, but after Eddie wrote an expose about his findings, he learned that Spider-Man had captured the real Sin-Eater, and that Gregg was just a compulsive liar. Fired from his job and humiliated, Brock was obsessed with getting revenge on Spider-Man, and the symbiote attaching itself to him gave him the means to accomplish that goal. Once again, Venom can't incorporate Spider-Man's involvement in Eddie's life, but it's still possible to put him in a situation where his personal and professional life are ruined. Once he's at his lowest point, then the symbiote can find him and grant him the power to pick himself back up and become something better.

The Symbiote's Weaknesses

The symbiote is a powerful creature. Along with being a natural shapeshifter, thanks to its time with Spider-Man, it also grants its user the Web-Slinger's replicated abilities. But it's not without weaknesses, and even with Eddie Brock as the main protagonist, it's important that he's not invincible. The creature's primary weaknesses is intense sounds. The only reason Peter Parker was able to get the symbiote off himself is because he did it in a church when a large bell was ringing. The symbiote is also weakened by fire, and by extension in the Ultimate universe, the heat from electricity. Assuming Venom doesn't come cross paths with something that can match him in brute strength, whoever the movie's villain is will need to rely on sound or heat to stand a chance defeating him.

Venom Being An Anti-Hero

Venom started out as a more traditional villain in the comics. That's what you get when your primary mission is to kill Spider-Man. However, he has also built a reputation as an anti-hero in select moments over the years, and I'm not just talking about when Flash Thompson was bonded with the symbiote. Venom's life doesn't revolve around capturing bank robbers or preventing car crashes, but there have been times when he's committed decent acts for the greater good, albeit through extreme methods. Admittedly, Eddie Brock was more firmly rooted in anti-hero territory when he was Anti-Venom, but the Venom movie can take some creative liberties with this. We have no doubt that Eddie's interests won't be entirely benevolent, but it's important that the audience can still sympathize with him, and making him an anti-hero rather than full-fledged villain will help make that happen.

Carnage

We still have no idea who the Venom's movies antagonist will be, but of all the Marvel characters available to Sony, Carnage is the best candidate. The Carnage symbiote is actually an offspring of the Venom symbiote, and that "baby" attached itself to serial killer Cletus Kassidy, who was Eddie Brock's cellmate in prison. Unlike Eddie, Cletus lacks a moral compass and embraces the freedom of chaos, just like The Joker in DC Comics. Empowered as Carnage, he can kill even more innocents. As mentioned earlier, Venom likely won't be a fully heroic character, but if Carnage is wreaking havoc, it will be up to Eddie to put a stop him, whether it's because he feels personally responsible since the Carnage symbiote came from his own symbiote, or because of his deep-rooted need to do what he believes is right. The chances of Spider-Man ever fighting Carnage in a movie are looking slim, and with Venom reportedly aiming to be an R-rated sci-fi/horror movie, the best approach for the villain is to use Carnage as a twisted foil of the main character.

Kevin Feige Reveals Whether Or Not VENOM Is Set In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

There's been a lot of confusion about how movies like Venom and Silver & Black fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its Spider-Man, but Kevin Feige has now cleared the matter up...

Upon realising that they were handling Spider-Man all wrong, Sony Pictures decided to team up with Marvel Studios to bring Peter Parker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That put spinoffs like Venom and Sinister Six on the shelf...for a little while at least. The former is now happening with Tom Hardy set to take on the role of Eddie Brock, but how can the symbiote exist without Spider-Man around?

That's a question the movie is going to have to find a way to answer as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that Venom will not be making his presence felt in the MCUany time soon.

"For now, there is no plan for Venom in the MCU," he tells AlloCine. "It’s a Sony Project." That was to be expected, but it's still disappointing. After all, Venom is a character who only exists because of Spider-Man. It was Peter Parker who found the alien suit and ended up rejecting it when it tried to bond with him. He also made an enemy of journalist Eddie Brock when he outed him as a fraud, so the two coming together to get their revenge on the wall-crawler is the whole basis of the iconic villain.

To be fair, Feige never actually definitively stated that Venom wasn't a part of the MCU, he simply said that the studio had no plans for the character at the moment. On the other hand, the Marvel Chief does look a little suprised by Pascal's comments in the video!

Spider-Man has officially entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his world is already about to get even bigger. Sony's long-gestating Venom movie will finally materialize next year (with Tom Hardy playing the titular role, no less), and that will open the door for an entire wave of Spider-Man characters to become central figures in the MCU. Or, at least, loosely connected to the MCU. It's an exciting prospect, but it also raises concerns that we cannot ignore.

Chief among these issues is the possibility of what could happen to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sony attains more creative control in this realm. On that note, and with Sony's take on Venom about to enter the proper Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are a few key ideas and concepts that must be acknowledged to maintain the integrity of the MCU. We have a few major points to get to, but let's get started with the fact that checking and double checking key story points in the MCU has officially become more important than ever.

Double Check Every Single Detail

Kevin Feige became an instant meme recently when he sat alongside Amy Pascal as she confirmed that Venom would be part of the MCU. She said they'd be "adjuncts," and might happen in different locations, but will be part of the same world. Although logic would dictate that they must have discussed this possibility at some point, the underlying joke is that Sony's new partnership with Marvel Studios could lead to inconsistency. If Venom (and other Spider-Man properties) are about the join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then the creative forces behind this development need to make sure that every concept, idea, and established story makes sense and jives with the overarching vision for the future. Marvel has developed a stellar reputation for thinking 10 steps ahead, but a partnership with another studio inherently creates a more decentralized environment where inconsistencies can arise. Quality control is key to everyone's success.

Make Tom Holland The Connective Thread Between Properties

Spider-Man has some of the best villains in all of Marvel Comics. In fact, there's even an easy argument to be made that he has the best rogues gallery this side of Batman. Having said that, Spider-Man's villains are a reflection of the teenage hero, which means these stories still require the presence of Tom Holland's Peter Parker in order to create a clear sense of continuity. We have no problem with Venom taking a lead role in his own solo movie, but a Venom story without even the slightest hint at his more heroic counterpart will be a hard sell for even the most die-hard Marvel enthusiast. These movies take place in Spider-Man's world; they are going to need him to participate, in the long run.

Figure Out Which Genres Work For Which Characters

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's best films all seem to have one major thing in common: they play with genre conventions and incorporate a wide variety of styles into their narratives. From Captain America: The Winter Soldier's take on the political thriller formula to Iron Man 3's buddy cop dynamic, Marvel movies work best when they understand their particular genre trappings. Venom should be no different in that regard. Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock can't (and shouldn't) get a traditional hero's journey story arc when his film debuts, and the Venom movie should lean into genre conventions that suit the character. Think about it. A Venom movie with an intense horror film aesthetic? Shut up and take my money right now!

Don't Overload The MCU With Spider-Man Projects

On the DC side of the superhero aisle, we have seen what happens when a cinematic universe tries to add too many characters and concepts too quickly. Spider-Man's corner of the MCU is now becoming its own unique cinematic world and the powers that be need to take it slow when it comes to developing the personalities and ideas that define it. Don't get me wrong, we love the idea of more Spider-Man concepts entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the next few years, but we also don't want to see every minor Spidey character get a solo movie. Start with the Venom and Black Cat/Silver Sable projects, and then gradually branch out from those films with new stories that logically build off of what they establish.

Keep Other MCU Heroes Out Of These Movies

We all know that Robert Downey Jr. will appear as Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Homecoming later this summer, and while that's an incredibly enticing idea, it also shouldn't become a permanent trend in this portion of the MCU. Spidey's corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to become exponentially more complicated as Sony fleshes out ideas like Eddie Brock and the Symbiote, and these concepts need to remain insulated until Sony has proven that it knows how to handle this burgeoning mythology. In a move reminiscent of the Phase 1 Marvel films, Sony's SpiderVerse will simply work better if a sound basis of characters and ideas comes together, and THEN other Marvel properties are eventually allowed to cross over and intermingle.

As Sony prepares to pump some #Venom into its Spideyverse, and Tom Hardy tries on a snug-fitting symbiote costume, the studio's once failing #SpiderMan hopes the franchise could finally be back on track. With Eddie Brock/Venom being one of the best-known villains from Peter Parker's rogues' gallery, fans are chomping at the bit for Sony to deliver us a well-deserved outing for the alien hybrid — especially considering the disaster of Topher Grace in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3.

So, while we may know that Hardy will be playing the muscular lead and doomed antihero, little else is known about what storyline the film will follow. Aside from Hardy's Brock, we also have no idea who else could be joining, or even where Venom fits into the complicated Marvel universe of heroes and villains. Talk has been rife about which Spider-Man characters could also be lurking in the shadows of the villainous vacation, but now we have confirmation that one other major player will be out to cause some "Carnage."

It's time to settle the debate, once and for all. Will Venom and the rest of Sony's Marvel characters be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Not at all.

Speaking to the heads of Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal, respectively, ComicBook.com got to the bottom of the debate which began a week ago -- shortly after Tom Hardy was cast a Venom in a standalone film coming from Sony. Initially, Feige firmly ruled Venom out of his precious Marvel Cinematic Universe before Pascal, a day later, made a statement which sounded a lot like the character would be included.

Now, the official ruling from both is in after the debate took the Internet by storm.

"Here's what we're doing: all these characters are a part of the Marvel comic book universe," Pascal said. "In that universe, they are all related to each other. Kevin [Feige] makes characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These characters are separate, except for Spidey, who belongs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is why he's there."

When asked if this is an absolute confirmation that a Venom and Spider-Man crossover is officially off the table, Feige is quick to say "We never say never."

However, he points out he would say the same thing about characters less likely than Venom to appear, as well. "You could ask me, 'Is Superman gonna be there?' I go, 'Never say never,' but not any time soon."

The bottom line is Venom will exist in Sony's Marvel Universe, without Spider-Man, while latter wallcrawler operates within the same world as the Avengers, completely independently from what Sony does with the rest of the Marvel properties.

Peter Parker actor Tom Holland is already on the same page with his film's producers. "Everyone's asking this question, man," Holland told ComicBook.com. "It's never happening."

While the debate is finally resolved, it's not put away before Feige's reaction to Pascal's previous sentiments became the world's best meme. A good sport, Feige is fully aware of the Internet's fun and has laughed about it himself. "It was my dream to be a meme," Feige said.

"Can you please clear it up!" Pascal joked. "I'm gonna be famous for mixing things up. That's what I wanted! I'm gonna be famous for f---ing up this whole thing."

As for the future of Spider-Man films, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures will continue to work together quite closely as Tom Holland's character pops up in various films as well as two more of his own. "It's a creative collaboration for sure," Feige said. "The deal was, this is of course a Sony movie but we would produce it. We would make it in our system with our team."

"It would have been silly for Sony to do this movie with Marvel and not get the benefit of what Marvel knows," Pascal added. "The whole point was to trust other people and know when other people are really good at what they do."

Will Spider-Man Make An Appearance In VENOM? Kevin Feige Sets The Record Straight

A Venom movie is in the works with Tom Hardy set to play Eddie Brock but will Tom Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man at least make some sort of cameo appearance? We finally have an answer about just that!

We've all been left with a lot of questions about Spider-Man's future thanks to Sony's decision to forge ahead with spinoffs revolving around characters like Venom, Silver Sable, and Black Cat, with the biggest being how Marvel's wall-crawler will factor into those spinoffs and whether he even exists in that world. It's been said that they're separate but how can Venom be Venom without Peter Parker?

Who knows at this point but during an interview at the world premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that their Spider-Man will NOT appear in Venom.

"No," he confirmed when asked about Tom Holland's Spider-Man showing up there. "No, I think they’re focusing on making a great Venom movie, and I don’t know much about it, but I know they’re off to a good start with Tom Hardy." We've heard that last bit before but the fact that Spider-Man won't even make a cameo appearance is concerning in regards to how the spinoff will work.

Are we getting an Eddie Brock who has never crossed paths with Peter Parker and has a totally different origin story or one who has but only done so off screen with a few vague references to that? We're obviously going to have to wait and see but share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Amy Pascal Teases Venom Movie Tone & Praises DirectorVenom not taking place in the timeline that’s currently laid out within Marvel Cinematic Universe could be for the best, especially now that a Sony executive has teased the tone of the flick.
While promoting Spider-Man: Homecoming with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Sony exec Amy Pascal took a second to praise Ruben Fleischer — the director of the Venom project — which according to Fandom, will be rated R.
“Well, Ruben [Fleischer] is a very talented, ironic, funny guy. He did a great job with Zombieland,” Pascal reflected. “So when you think of that mixed with Venom, I think that tells you what it should be.”

Zombieland — Fleischer’s first feature film — was a success both critically and commercially, grossing over $102 million worldwide with a 90% rating on the review aggregating website Rotten Tomatoes.
The comedy zombie flick stars the likes of Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone, so it would certainly be a change of pace to die-hard fans of the long-time Spider-Man nemesis.
The Venom movie — starring Tom Hardy as the film’s titular character — is currently scheduled to begin filming later this Fall. In the meantime, fans of Spidey and crew will have to get their web-slinging fix by watching Spider-Man: Homecoming, which hits theatres domestically next week.

We may have some intriguing new details on Sony's planned Venom spinoff for you guys, as the movie will reportedly include Eddie Brock's ex-wife, Ann Weying, who took the mantle of She-venom in the comics.

That Hashtag Show is back with some (possible) early character details for an upcoming release, and this time it's Sony's Spider-Man: Homecoming spinoff, Venom.

According to their latest video report, the movie will feature Ann Weying, who was a successful lawyer and Eddie Brock's (Tom Hardy) ex-wife in the comics, and bonded with the venom symbiote when she was shot by Sin-Eater. We don't know if Weying will actually become She-Venom in the film, of course, but whichever incarnation of the character Sony winds up going with, they are apparently looking at actresses from the age of 25 to 32.

In addition, THS reckons fans shouldn't expect to see the classic 616 version of the Venom suit, as Brock will actually be sporting a version of the bio-suit that was introduced in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man. If true, this does allow for a direct connection between Eddie Brock and Peter Parker, as the suit was created by their fathers.

It looks like the working title for Sony Pictures' Venom movie has been revealed, while an audition video might just confirm the inclusion of Eddie Brock's ex-wife, Ann Weying. More details after the jump.

The guys over at Omega Underground have done some digging and come up with the working title for Sony's Venom movie. Apparently, the Spider-Man spinoff will be known as "Antidote" when cameras start rolling in Atlanta this September.

Does this codename have anything to do with the film's plot? Perhaps - but it could simply be a direct play on the official title.

In related news, an audition video with newcomer Casey Jayne reading for the role of "Annie" has surfaced, possibly confirming that the movie will indeed feature the character of Ann Weying, who suits-up as She-Venom in the comics.

Do you think any plot details can be gleaned from this? Those F-bombs would definitely seem to confirm that R-rating, anyway.

Sony Pictures is preparing to make a move on its next Marvel project in a few months, but the feature won’t be housing the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The studio will slated to begin production on its Venom spin-off come September, and its new working title might hint at what all the film will entail.
According to a new report by Omega Underground, Venom appears to be operating under the working title ‘Antidote.’ The codename is expected to be used during pre-production and filming, but fans are thinking the title has more meaning to it than Sony would admit.

While working title’s can be just that, films often pick obscure names to work with which ultimately circle back to its topic. For Venom, a title like ‘Antidote’ have fans wondering if the movie will alter the origins of its titular symbiote. Rather than hailing from the planet Battleworld, the Venom parasite may find its origins within the Earth. The symbiote may crop up following a pandemic of sorts, and Eddie Brock could be the unlucky - or maybe lucky - man whom the organism latches onto.
Of course, the working title may also refer to Brock once he has become attached to the symbiote. Venom may pose a threat to its human host once they become attached, and Brock may wind up putting his life at stake to work with the strange organism.
So far, there are few details out about the Venom spin-off, but fans know enough to be intrigued by the project. Recently, news broke that Cletus Kasady is expected to stand in as Venom’s main villain as the man is better-known by his moniker Carnage. Reports have also cropped up which suggest the spin-off will feature Brock’s ex-wife Anne Weying, and comic readers will recognize the character as another Venom host from the canon.
As for casting, Sony has only moved forward with one star for Venom. Tom Hardy has been brought on to play Eddie Brock and lead the film moving forward. With the move expected to begin production at the start of September, fans are hoping Sony may reveal new casting updates in July as San Diego Comic Con gears up. (Photo: Pixiequinn Cosplay/Samuel Cheve) Venom is set to release next year as Sony gave the film an expedited premiere. Currently, the feature is set to debut on October 5, 2018 as director Ruben Fleischer oversees the project. The film takes its story from a script penned by Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner. Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach has been drafted to produce the feature.

Venom Movie Draws from John Carpenter & David Cronenberg Films
The Venom movie is drawing inspiration from the works of the most famous body horror filmmakers. With nearly $500 million worldwide racked up as of this writing, Spider-Man: Homecoming represents a new age for the wall-crawler in cinema, and the dawn of a new lucrative partnership between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios. Of course, that doesn’t mean Sony is just sitting by while Marvel does its thing. The studio made clear a few months back that they are pushing forward on a solo movie starring popular Spider-Man villain Venom. with Tom Hardy set to play the lead and Zombieland helmer Ruben Fleischer directing.
While it’s been stressed that Venom will not be part of the MCU directly, it is still supposed to take place “in the same reality,” although what exactly that means for Venom’s origin story remains anyone’s guess. Venom’s origin is of course classically tied closely to Spider-Man, but Marvel and Sony executives have made conflicting statements as to whether there’s any chance of Tom Holland’s version of Spidey appearing in Sony’s attempt at its own Marvel cinematic universe

Carpenter’s horror films are famous for aspects such as the director’s distinctive unsettling atmosphere, and his tendency to isolate characters when it’s time to face whatever otherworldly foe awaits. For examples, one need only watch Halloween,The Fog, or The Thing. While now a much more mainstream drama director, Cronenberg established himself via his penchant for body horror – films which see characters undergo bizarre mutations or transformations. Top examples of that include The Fly,Videodrome, and The Brood.
The Cronenberg influence especially makes sense, as Eddie Brock’s bonding with the alien symbiote that transforms him into Venom can easily be interpreted as a tale of body horror. With Sony’s stated desire to have each of their Marvel solo spinoffs carry a distinctive tone and style, the Carpenter influence also makes a lot of sense, as few directors within the horror genre put such a creative stamp on their films. There’s a reason tons of later horror films have aped Carpenter, and that’s because the man knew what he was doing.
Sony has described Venom as a horror/sci-fi film, with plans to shoot for an R-rating. With that in mind, a statement given to Variety by Columbia Pictures president Sanford Panitch sheds some light as to what type of horror/sci-fi movies that Venom will draw inspiration from. Panitch says that Venom will be inspired by the work of legendary horror director John Carpenter and the genre work of David Cronenberg, in particular

Venom, meanwhile, will be helmed by Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer and he has some very interesting ideas about where to take Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock. "I’ve always been drawn to the more antihero superheroes. There’s a dark element to [Venom] and a wit that has always appealed to me." The film is set to delve into the character's origin story (sans Spider-Man?) and the Jekyll and Hyde relationship Brock has with the alien symbiote. "They become almost a third being, which is what Venom is. There’s a famous quote: ‘You’re Eddie Brock. I’m the symbiote. Together we are Venom.’"

Panitch adds to that by emphasising Venom's horror roots and stating that it will draw on the work of Jfilmmakers like John Carpenter and David Cronenberg while delivering "more pop and fun." He won't be tied down to confirming a Spider-Man appearance, though, stating: "If we get lucky enough to make more than one [Venom film] and continue the franchise, there are lots of opportunities."
He's just as vague when it comes to Kraven the Hunter too as the studio exec would neither confirm nor deny plans for him to get his own solo movie. "He’s an awesome character," Panitch says. "Let’s just leave it at that." What do you guys think? As always, share your thoughts in the usual place.

ROGUE ONE Actor Riz Ahmed In Talks To Join Tom Hardy In The VENOM Movie As A "Popular Marvel Character"

Though there's no word on who exactly he's playing, Riz Ahmed has reportedly entered talks to join Tom Hardy in Sony's planned Venom movie as an established Marvel Comics character. Could it be Carnage?

According to Variety, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor Riz Ahmed is in talks to star alongside Tom Hardy in Sony Pictures' Venom movie. The trade doesn't provide any details on who he'd play, but they do reveal that it is a "popular Marvel Comics character."

Of course, everyone's first thought (and hope) will be that Ahmed might be in line to play Carnage, but since nothing in the report indicates that this is the case, we'll just have to wait and see.

Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer is directing the film, which will not feature an appearance from Tom Holland's Spider-Man.

Venom is set to open Oct. 5, 2018.

UPDATE: It seems Ahmed landing the role is not a sure thing, as Matt Smith, Pedro Pascal and Mathias Schoenarts are also in the running. Plus, THR has confirmed that the character is NOT Carnage, so it's time to get those speculation hats on folks!

VENOM: Is Riz Ahmed Up For Carnage Role After All... Or Could It Be Chameleon? More Details Emerge

Though yesterday's report indicated that Riz Ahmed wasn't in talks for the role of the villainous Carnage in Sony's Venom movie, some new details have now come to light that might suggest otherwise...

Last night we found out thatRogue One: A Star Wars Story actor Riz Ahmed had entered talks for a role in Sony's upcoming Venom movie along with Matt Smith, Pedro Pascal and Mathias Schoenarts. At the time, we were told that the character was not Carnage, but we're now hearing conflicting reports on that.

Several journos have since stated that it might be Cletus Kasady after all (that was the role Ahmed was originally up for, apparently), but that this is going to be treated as a big reveal in the movie. The Tracking Board's report also seems to hint that the role could actually be The Chameleon - but this might well be Jeff Sneider simply having a bit of fun.

Hopefully we'll get something more solid on this Venom situation soon, but in the meantime be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place.

Anticipation is already building for Sony's solo Venom project, but the film might already have met a delay.Venom, which has Tom Hardy attached to the role of Eddie Brock, was slated to start shooting on September 1st. That date might already be in doubt though, as the studios released a call for additional crew. The listing on Georgia.org (via Omega Underground) reads "Columbia Pictures feature film "Antidote" is accepting resumes for all crew positions."

That will likely include positions such as production assistants, grips, gaffers, make-up artists, stylists, and other assorted crew, and being that it is already August 25th, that doesn't leave much time for the studio to organize a new team of people into the project.
"Antidote" is Venom's working title of course, and it could be later in September or even October before filming gets started. The release date is still pegged as October of next year.
Not much is known about Venom, other than that it will not be the traditional origin story for Eddie Brock. In the comics, Brock received the symbiote suit after Peter Parker rid himself of it with some church bells. Brock would then inherit the suit and become one of Spider-Man's greatest foes, but in the film universe, there won't be a symbiote Spider-Man to take it from.
It is assumed then that the film will go the Flash Thompson origin route, as he received the suit as part of a military program after it was captured. That would free it from having to interlink with Spider-Man at the beginning, but it is also assumed that the two will eventually battle somewhere down the road.Venom is being directed by Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer, but aside from Hardy, no casting decisions have yet been made. There are rumors that Riz Ahmed is in talks to play a role in the project, but nothing official has been released.
Brock recently returned to the role of Venom in the comics as well. Flash Thompson's run came to an end, and a new owner took over. Brock led the group that brought the new owner down and took the suit back for himself, so it looks like the Venom resurgence will continue in both the books and the big screen.

VENOM Production Delayed; Now Expected To Begin Filming At The End Of October

It's been widely reported that Venom would begin filming Fall 2017 and while, that's still the case, it looks like it'll actually be getting started just a little later than expected. Come take a look!

Following the announcement that Academy Award-nominee Tom Hardy would play Eddie Brock/Venom in an upcoming spinoff movie directed by Ruben Fleisher (Zombieland), it was reported soon thereafter that Sony Pictures was hoping to get production underway by the end of the year, which came as a surprise to many.

It was then revealed back in June that the studio was potentially eyeing September 1st as a filming start date, but now, according to a new report from our friends over at Omega Underground, that plan has changed ever so slightly and production has been delayed to October 23rd.

It's uncertain what led to the delay, but it appears as though crew availability in Atlanta may have played a factor as there are currently several big-budget blockbusters filming in the area, including Marvel's still-untitled Avengers 4, so it may have benefitted them to wait a little bit longer to get started. It's also unknown whether the film has completed casting several major roles, including Cletus Kasady/Carnage and Ann Weying, both of which have yet-to-be formally announced.

Plot details remain under lock-and-key, but in addition to Hardy, Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) is also said to be in talks for a major role. Fleisher will direct with a script from Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle scribes Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner.

So, what do you guys think? Excited for Venom? Sound off with your thoughts below!